Threshing-machine frame.



E. J. VRAALSTAD.

THRESHING MACHINE FRAME.

APPLICATION rn nn JUNB6,1908.

Patented Jan. 18, 1910.

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THBESHING MACHINE FRAME APPLICATION FILED JTUHE 6,1908.

947,1 37. Patented Jan. 18,1910.

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THRESHING MACHINE FRAME. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6,1908.

" Patented Jan. 18, 1-910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ANDREW. B GRAHAM 00.. pnmu-umocmvuins. WASHINGTON. n. I;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J'. VRAALSTAD, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF TO BUF-FALO PIT'IS COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

THRESHING-MAGHINE FRAME.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1910.

Application filed June e, 1908. Serial No. 437,130.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J VRAALSTAD, of Buffalo, in the county ofErie and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Threshing-Machine Frames; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a strong and durablethreshing machine frame and one capable of resisting torsional strain.

Further objects are to so construct a thresher frame of metal as toenable the housing or linings to be readily secured thereto; and also toprovide a simple and rigid support for the frame and the-threshercylinder. i,

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and, particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the machine frame inperspec tive. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is anenlarged sectional view of a portion of the frame and truss with partsbroken away. Fig. 4: is a fragmentary view in perspective of portions ofthe truss, rear axle, and adjacent frame members. Fig. 5 is an enlargedsectional view online 5-5, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged View showing aportion of a sill, rear axle and brace rod. Fig. 7 is a view inperspective of the support for the front end of the frame and thebearings for the threshing cylinder. Fig. 8 is a section on line 88,Fig. 7. Fig. 9 shows the blank from which the support is made. 4

Referring to the drawings, 1' designates the axle of the front carryingwheels upon which is mounted a support 2, having a depending bracket 3which, by a universal joint 4, is connected to the front axle. Thesupport 2 is composed of an inner wall 5, preferably formed from two'connected plates extending cross-wise of the vehicle, and twoforwardly-projecting parallel plates 6, preferably integral with, andbent forwardly from, the plates forming wall 5.

These plates 6 have their lower ends bent outwardly, and said ends attheir rear edges are secured by, angle plates 7 .to wall 5. A brace bar8 is secured to the undersides of the outwardly bent ends of plates 6,and

the top and side edges of wall 5 are bent back to form flanges 9. ifpreferred wall 5 may be formed from a single plate, (see Fig. 9) the twoparallel plates 6 being struck therefrom, but for convenience I makethis wall from two plates, and strengthen it by a cross brace 10. Thetwo parallel plates 6 form the bearings for the thresher cylinder, notshown.

The frame 12 to which the housing or lining of the machine is securedand by which the carriers, conveyers and other operative parts of themachine are supported, is of skeleton formation. It is composed almostentirely of channel bars. The sills or bottom bars 13 are suspended attheir rear ends by the rear axle 14, while their forward ends are heldto the rearwardly turned side flanges 9 of wall 5 by a tie-rod 14 Thetop side bars 15 are shown as extending rearwardly some distance beyondthe rear axle and at their forward ends are bolted to the top flanges 9.Each of these top bars is connected to the sills by corresponding,oppositely-disposed, spaced-apart uprights 16 which, like top bars 15and sills 18 are of channel irons, but the channels of these uprightsface inwardly. The oppositely-disposed central uprights 16 may bestrengthened by diagonal braces 17 secured thereto and to the sills, andadditional support may be secured by diagonal braces 18 connecting thetop bars and sills, and these braces in turn may be strengthened bystraps 19 secured to side flanges 9. The braces 18 as well as theseveral uprights are equipped -w-ith suitable shaft or hanger bearings20 for the various parts of a thresher.

21 designates two corresponding rearwardly-inclined braces connectingthe top side bars to the sills, the connections to the latter being justforward of the points of suspension of the sills on the rear axle. A

tie-rod 22 connects the two rearwardly-in clined braces 21. In order'toresist torsional strain this tie-rod at its ends is connected bydiagonal tracer-eds 23 to the top of the frame and to the sills; and isalso connected by two brace rods 24 direct to the rear axle, theselatter brace rods 2% crossing the lower portions of brace rods 23. Uponrod 22 are spacing thimbles 25, and upon the ends of said rod arebinding nuts 26.

In a thresher it is not possible to brace or strengthen the frame byconnections between the sides thereof which will in any way interferewith the location and movements of the various parts of the machine orinterfere with the passage of the material. Hence the transverse tie rod22 is located at a point to avoid all difficulty in this respect. Theseveral brace rods 23 and 24, coupled with the tie-rod 22, enable theframe to resist torsional strain. In other words, a truss for thedeck isformed by the several brace rods and the tie rod. Ordinarily to properlytruss a superstructure the lower ends of brace rods similar to the rods23 should be carried out some distance beyond the sides of suchsuperstructure, but since this is not feasible in a machine of thischaracter, the same result is obtained by securing the lower ends ofbrace rods 23 to the base or sills and by employing the tie rod 22 as anintermediate connection or support for the extended portions of suchbrace rods. This tie rod being itself connected to the sill by thesecond set of brace rods 24, itwill be seen that not only is the decksupported as against any torsional strain, but the sides of the frameitself are securely braced.

The top side bars are shown as extended rearwardly a short distancebeyond the rearwardly-inclined braces 21, and as supporting at theirouter ends depending bars 27 which are connected at their lower ends bya cross rod 28 and strengthened by diagonal braces 29 and 30, all ofthese parts, with the exception of the cross rod 28, being channelirons.

31 designates the deck extending over the frame and preferably made ofsheet metal secured at its side edges to filler bars 32, preferably ofwood. The deck is secured to side bars 15 by 'nutted bolts 33 passedthrough the fillers and the upper flanges of such side bars, while theupper ends of the side uprights are bent inwardly and preferably securedto the deck by bolts 35. On the top of the deck are cross-bars 36, foradding to the strength of the frame, and to one of which the brace-rods23 are preferably secured. v

Wood fillers 37 are secured in the channels of the several uprights soas to form surfaces to which the housing or lining (not shown) of thethresher may be readily secured, said fillers being held in the channelsby bolts or rivets.

Whave found in actual practice that by making a skeleton frame of metal,preferably composed of channel bars, I am enabled to produce a framewhich is much lighter and far more durable than an all-wood frame; thatby providing a practically rigid inflexible support for the threshercylinder and the forward end of the skeleton frame, and also byconnecting the sides by the deck and bracing the frame in closeproximity to its suspension on the rear carrying axle, the frame willresist torsional strain. In consequence, the danger of breakage,especially in passing over rough roads, is reduced to a minimum.Furthermore, by making the frame of channel bars the necessary woodfillers, forming anchors for the housing or lining of the thresher, maybe readily and easily secured in place.

I claim as my invention 1. In combination with front and rear carryingwheels and axles therefor, a threshing machine frame comprising a basemounted on the rear axle, a deck and side members, means for trussingsaid deck to said baSe in proximity to said rear axle, such meanscomprising brace rods secured to deck and carried outwardly therefrom,rigid supports mounted in the sides of the frame and extended laterallytherefrom, the extended portions of the brace rods being secured to saidsupports, and a second set of brace rods connecting said supports tosaid base in proximity to said rear axle, and means pivotally connectingsaid front axle to the forward end of said frame.

2. In combination with front and rear carrying wheels and axlestherefor, a threshing machine frame comprisinga base mounted on the rearaxle, a deck and side members, means for trussing said deck to said basein proximity to said rear axle, such means comprising brace rods securedto deck and carried outwardly therefrom and connected at theirinwardly-drawn lower ends to the sides of said base, rigid supportsmounted in the sides of the frame and extended laterally therefrom, theextended portions of the brace rods being secured to said supports, anda second set of brace rods connecting said supports to said base inproximity to said rear axle, and means pivotally connecting said frontaxle to the forward end of said frame.

3. In combination with front and rear carrying wheels and axlestherefor, a threshing machine frame comprisinga base mounted on the.rear axle, a deck and side mem bers, means for trussing said deck tosaid base in proximity to said rear axle, such means comprising bracerods secured to deck and carried outwardly therefrom and connected attheir inwardly drawn lower ends to the sides of said base, a tie rodsupported by said sides and projecting beyond the latl a 947,137 I ater, the extended portions of said brace rods In testimony whereof, Ihave signed this being secured to the projecting ends of saidspecification in the presence of two subscribtie rods, and a second setof brace-rods c0ning Witnesses. t necting said tie rods to said base inprox- EDi/VARD J. VRAALSTAD.

imity to said rear axle, and means pivotally Witnesses: connecting saidfront axle to the forward H. P. SEIPP, end of said frame. C. M. GREINER.

